Influence of Hyaluronic Acid on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Local Side Effects

University of Rome Tor Vergata

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Poisoning by BCG Vaccine

Treatments: Drug: Hyaluronic Acid; Drug: BCG (Immucist®)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02207608

EA-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a possible role of intravesical Hyaluronic Acid in reducing local toxicity of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) used to treat bladder urothelial cell carcinoma.

Full description

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is considered the most effective treatment to increase disease-free interval and reduce progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) [1]. Although considered safe, BCG can produce both local and systemic side effects leading to treatment discontinuation or interruption. The most common local side-effects of BCG intravesical instillations include cystitis, characterized by irritative voiding symptoms and hematuria, which occur in approximately 75% of all patients. More rarely, serious local adverse events as a result of BCG infection, such as symptomatic granulomatous prostatitis and epididymo-orchitis, might occur and require permanent discontinuation of BCG treatment. Systemic side-effects include flu-like symptoms, such as general malaise and fever, occuring in approximately 40% of patients. A high persistent fever might be related to BCG infection or sepsis. Local and systemic side-effects might lead to discontinue intravesical BCG treatment in approximately 20% of patients [2]. Up to 54% of the patients undergoing intravesical therapy with chemotherapeutic agents to treat superficial bladder tumours can be affected by nonbacterial cystitis [3].

Several solutions have been proposed to reduce the occurrence of side effects from BCG with the aim to limit BCG discontinuation and the concomitant discomfort during endovesical treatment. Some Authors have proposed to avoid BCG administration in case of TUR within previous 2 weeks, traumatic catheterization, macroscopic hematuria, urethral stenosis, active tuberculosis, prior Bacillus Calmette-Guérin sepsis, immuno-suppression or urinary tract infection [4]. Other procedures include the prophylactic administration of isoniazid [5] or ofloxacin [6,7] or usually involve BCG dose reductions [8]. In common practice antimicrobials, anticholinergics, anaesthetics and analgesics are often used to relieve patients' symptoms.

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) substitution therapy is an emerging treatment of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC) and response rates between 30% and 80% have been described with intravesical administration of various GAGs (hyaluronic acid, pentosan polysulfate, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, and dimethyl sulfoxide) [9,10]. Few papers report the results of GAG substitution therapy in the treatment of radiation and chemical cystitis [9,10]. To our knowledge, to date, only two papers have described GAG use in the treatment of BCG local side effects; this papers show very good results, with significant reduction of lower urinary tract symptoms after intravesical administration of HA [11,12].

Aim of the present randomized pilot study was to evaluate if the sequential administration of HA and BCG could be safe in prevention of early recurrence and progression of bladder tumor, and safe in reduction of local side-effects in patients with high risk NMIBC.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically proven non-muscle invasive bladder cancer;
• Indication to intravesical instillation of BCG according to EAU guidelines;
• Age > 18 years;
• Willingness, to participate to the study;
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous or ongoing BCG or different intravesical instillations;
• Urinary tract infections (UTI) or other known pathologies of the lower urinary tract;
• Indication for a radical cystectomy;
• Severe systemic disorders, including neurological pathologies, kidney, liver or heart failure;
• Contraindications to BCG use.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

BCG alone (Immucist®)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group A receive BCG (Immucist® 81 mg, Sanofi-Aventis Group) alone

Treatment:

Drug: BCG (Immucist®)

Hyaluronic acid

Experimental group

Description:

Group B receive BCG and HA 40 mg (Cystistat, Mylan, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.).

Treatment:

Drug: BCG (Immucist®)

Drug: Hyaluronic Acid